GIRLS BASKETBALL: Lisa Hendrickson resigns as Flathead coach

Flathead girls basketball coach Lisa Hendrickson stepped down from her position on Thursday after three seasons at the helm of the Bravettes.

Hendrickson, who was an assistant coach at her alma mater, St. Martin’s University in Lacey, Washington, for eight seasons before arriving at Flathead, said the decision to step down was hers alone and was not an easy one.

“It’s extremely difficult for me,” Hendrickson said on Friday. “I’m having a really hard time with it. Just weighing everything, I think that it’s time.

“The transition here has been difficult,” she added. “I haven’t always felt like I was the right fit for the job. I don’t know what it was.”

The Bravettes struggled to win under Hendrickson, going 11-52 overall and just 2-34 in the Western AA. Flathead has not won a conference game since the 2013-14 season.

“I’ve never lost this much in my life — as a player or as a coach — and that’s hard. Just the amount has been a lot. I’m not sure that the community, that it was the right fit for my coaching philosophy.

“I don’t like putting one player above anyone else and I don’t think that is teaching the values that I want to teach. I’ve been coaching that I want to help them become women and mentor them to gain confidence. I was big into community service and teaching girls the big lessons, and that kind of stuff was really important to me. I wasn’t going to give that up.”

Despite the team’s on-court struggles the last three years, Hendrickson does believe the future of the program is bright. The Bravettes graduate only two seniors off this year’s roster and return two-time all-conference selection Tiana Johnson, who finished fourth in the state in scoring at 14.3 points per game.

“I feel like they have the potential to have success very soon,” she said of the Bravettes. “I hope I’ve laid the groundwork for the next coach to be successful.

“I hope that all of the assistant coaches that I had last year continue to coach,” she continued. “They’re all very passionate and did a great job … I’m (the team’s) number one fan and will be there supporting them any way that they want or need.”

Hendrickson, who has two children, ages 9 and 12, also looked forward to spending more time with her family.

“I think I’m ready to close a chapter,” she said. “The next season would have been my 13th year coaching. I think I’m ready to be a fan and just watch my kids do their thing.”

Hendrickson is also a teacher at Flathead High School said she plans on remaining at the school in that capacity.

In a press release announcing the move, Flathead Activities Director Bryce Wilson praised Hendrickson’s effort and commitment.

“Lisa has worked hard, countless hours dedicating her time and energy to our students,” Wilson wrote in the release. “Her dedication to the Flathead Bravette basketball program and Flathead High School has always been top notch.”

In the same release, Wilson said the search for a new coach will begin immediately.

HENDRICKSON FILE

Coaching Record at Flathead:

2013-14 – 5-16 (2-10 Western AA)

2014-15 – 2-19 (0-12)

2015-16 – 4-17 (0-12)

OVERALL — 11-52 (2-34)